The smiles and happiness of the "leprosy colony residents"

(Dan Tri Newspaper) - Ms. Dung (81 years old) and her roommate - also her childhood cowherd friend - happily "show off" their lucky money envelopes. She entered a leprosy colony at the age of 14. She has been at the Quoc Oai leprosy treatment center (Hanoi) for 10 years.

On the morning of February 9th, despite the cold and rainy weather in Hanoi , at 8 am, more than 30 elderly people at the Quoc Oai leprosy treatment center - Hanoi Dermatology Hospital - gathered in the auditorium to welcome the delegation of doctors and nurses from the National Dermatology Hospital who came to wish them a Happy New Year.

Ms. Le Thi Dung (81 years old) has been associated with the leprosy treatment center for 67 years, including more than 10 years at the Quoc Oai leprosy treatment center, laughing and chatting happily with the staff and doctors.

She and her cowherd friend (a childhood friend) happily opened the red envelopes, chatting cheerfully with the doctors and nurses.

Associate Professor Dr. Le Huu Doanh presents gifts to patients at the Quoc Oai leprosy treatment center (Photo: Hong Hai).

Meanwhile, Mr. Dang Dinh Uy happily shared his joy at having recently received a prosthetic leg, which will help him walk more easily.

He also has two older sisters who are also in the Quoc Oai leprosy treatment center.

Unable to go to the auditorium due to mobility issues, 94-year-old Mrs. Sam, upon being visited by doctors and nurses in her ward, laughed and chatted cheerfully, sharing her wish for good health in the new year.

The women happily "show off" their lucky money envelopes (Photo: Hong Hai).

Dr. Do Thi Thanh Mai, Deputy Head of the Leprosy Treatment Department, Facility 3, Hanoi Dermatology Hospital, said that the treatment area is currently caring for 44 patients, the oldest of whom is 97 years old. Previously, there have been patients who lived to be 99 and 104 years old. The majority of patients are now over 80 years old, with only a very small number under 50.

Currently, medical care here mainly focuses on the care, treatment, and preservation of the sequelae and disabilities left behind by leprosy. Test results show that none of the patients no longer have the leprosy bacteria.

The elderly people were overjoyed to see the doctors and nurses (Photo: Hong Hai).

Associate Professor Dr. Le Huu Doanh, Director of the Central Dermatology Hospital, said that every Lunar New Year, the Central Dermatology Hospital collaborates with charitable organizations to visit, extend New Year greetings, and give gifts to leprosy treatment centers in the North.

Quoc Oai Leprosy Camp in Hanoi is the 10th facility caring for and treating leprosy patients during the annual Tet (Lunar New Year) visit of the Central Dermatology Hospital's staff.

During the Lunar New Year holiday, a delegation from the Central Dermatology Hospital visited and extended New Year greetings to patients in the leprosy treatment ward (Photo: Hong Hai).

In addition to the 1 million VND gift per person given to the 44 patients undergoing treatment here, the hospital's staff also contributed many gifts to the patients during Tet. Last year, the hospital carried out practical activities to care for and treat leprosy patients, including donating 5 prosthetic legs to the elderly at the leprosy colony here.

According to Associate Professor Doanh, if leprosy patients are diagnosed and treated early, they can certainly be completely cured and return to normal life without disability. However, in reality, many leprosy patients are diagnosed late, so even after the leprosy bacteria are eradicated, nerve and skin damage, as well as the impact on their ability to work, puts them at high risk of disability.

Therefore, even though they are cured, they are still managed and cared for at leprosy treatment centers. In the past year, six prosthetic legs have been fitted for five patients here (some received two legs), thanks to funding from the hospital and benefactors.

This year, the Central Dermatology Hospital also hopes to expand the provision of prosthetic limbs to both central and southern Vietnam for patients in need.

Dr. Doanh also added that the leprosy prevention strategy for the period 2026-2035 aims to eliminate leprosy in each region, striving towards "no more leprosy and no more leprosy bacteria" in Vietnam.

The National Dermatology Hospital, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health , is developing an action plan for the new phase, focusing on maintaining the leprosy prevention and control network, providing free treatment and preventive medications, offering professional support to localities, and promoting disability prevention and rehabilitation activities for patients.

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/suc-khoe/nhung-nu-cuoi-niem-hanh-phuc-cua-nguoi-trai-phong-20260209223354132.htm